Hensley enters Kootenai County race, promising growth planning and tax relief

Julie Hensley is telling District 1 voters that Kootenai County needs a commissioner who will plan for growth before it becomes a bill for taxpayers. In her first run for the seat now held by Marc Eberlein, who is not seeking reelection, Hensley is centering her campaign on long-range planning, public safety and a harder look at county spending as the Republican primary approaches on May 19, 2026.

Hensley, 37, moved to North Idaho from Southern California in 2018 and lives in Post Falls. She has a Bachelor of Science in nursing and worked in emergency and operating-room settings, experience she says taught her to make decisions quickly under pressure. That same pressure, she argues, is now present in county government as Kootenai County deals with roads, infrastructure and rising expectations tied to rapid development.

Her background also reaches beyond health care. Hensley and her husband, Joshua, built and managed several small businesses, including handling the financial side, and they own and manage properties. She has described that combination of business, ownership and budgeting as preparation for commissioner work, where choices on taxes and spending shape how fast-growing communities like Post Falls, Hayden and the unincorporated parts of the county absorb new residents.

The county’s growth numbers give her pitch immediate weight. Kootenai County’s population estimate reached 191,864 as of July 1, 2025, up from 171,362 in the 2020 Census, and the county says its population grew 14% in the last five years. County officials are also updating the comprehensive plan, a 20-year guide for growth and development in unincorporated areas, with the process expected to continue through April 2027. Hensley has said that if the county does not stay ahead of growth, roads, services and infrastructure will lag and cost more later.

Taxes are the other half of her message. In August 2025, commissioners approved a fiscal year 2026 budget of about $144 million, roughly 10% larger than the prior year and carrying a 2.5% increase in levied taxes. Hensley has said county spending should be examined carefully so officials protect citizens while cutting unnecessary costs. In a late-April candidate forum, she said policy, growth management, long-term planning and stewarding tax dollars should be the core responsibilities of a commissioner.

Hensley has also gained organizational support. The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee listed her as a recommended candidate for the primary, and her campaign website says Post Falls Mayor Randy Westlund endorsed her. She faces John Padula in the Republican contest for a seat that will help steer county policy through the next round of growth pressure.